Posted: Oct 29, 2019

Soccer Championships Preview: Rematches Rule the Day

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The 2019 Penn State University Athletic Conference Soccer Championships will feature two rematches of last year's title games when they kick-off on Wednesday evening at the West Turf Fields on the University Park campus.

Penn State Brandywine men's and women's teams will each look to repeat, but will be challenged by Penn State Beaver and Penn State Hazleton, respectively. Each of Brandywine's teams finished the conference season undefeated, but their closest challengers during the season came from their opponents on Wednesday. Beaver took a 1-0 loss to Brandywine just two weeks ago, and Hazleton took Brandywine to the brink, losing in overtime in early October.

You'll be able to follow all of the action via Live Stats and a live video stream available on the schedule pages linked below. Scroll to the bottom of the schedule and select the Video or Live Stats link next to the game.

Women's Game

Men's Game

Women's Championship

#1 Penn State Brandywine (9-7, 6-0 PSUAC) vs. #3 Penn State Hazleton (9-3-1, 3-2-1 PSUAC), 4:00 p.m.

Brandywine will look to win their fourth-straight title when they face Hazleton for the second straight season in the title game. Brandywine has played in every title game since its inception in 2015 and comes in hot after winning nine of its final 10 matches. Hazleton will look to knock them off their perch, as the program plays in its second title game in its four years of existence.

Brandywine is led by PSUAC Player of the Year Brianna Banks, who finished the season with 37 goals and 78 points in just 16 games. She recorded a hat trick in half of Brandywine's games this season and has scored at least one goal in 13 straight matches.

Hazleton brings plenty of firepower itself, including a more balanced offensive attack led by Emma Wyllie with 20 goals. Katie Oldziejewski added 12 goals and five assists, while Breann Fetterman struck for eight goals and eight assists from the midfield. In total, Hazleton has six players with five or more goals on the season.

The game will kick-off at 4:00 p.m. at the West Turf Fields on White Course Dr., directly across from Rec Hall.

Men's Championship

#1 Penn State Brandywine (15-5-1, 9-0 PSUAC) vs. #2 Penn State Beaver (13-4, 8-1 PSUAC), 6:30 p.m.

Much like their female counterparts, Brandywine's men's team will try to win their fourth-straight championship. For the second straight year, Beaver will attempt to cut the reign of the defending champs. Brandywine has had a hold of men's soccer for more than half a decade, winning six of the past seven championships.

Brandywine is led by a strong defense that allowed just one goal in 10 matches against the PSUAC. Goalkeeper Juan Guerrero picked up 11 wins and seven shutouts while yielding a 1.16 goals against average. Gavin Birch and Axel Ayllon-Ortiz led a balanced offensive attack with 10 and nine goals, respectively. Ayllon-Ortiz also added nine assists on the year.

Beaver is paced by PSUAC Player of the Year Danylo Yakymov, who led the PSUAC with 21 goals and 15 assists. Teammate Mishael Garcia, the league's Rookie of the Year, added 19 goals and five assists for a powerful offensive attack.

The men's championship will start approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the women's championship awards ceremony.

FAN INFORMATION

Parking prior to 5:00 p.m. is available in the Nittany Parking Deck, which is located adjacent to the Nittany Lion Inn on Fischer Rd., approximately 300 yards from West Turf Fields. Fans will not be able to park in the Red A lot adjacent to the fields as visitor parking has been eliminated as construction is taking place in the area.
- After 5:00 p.m., parking is also available in the Red A lot off Atherton St., directly across from Rec Hall and adjacent to the fields.
ADA accessibility will be available. Drive to the kiosk and indicate you are attending the soccer championships and show your handicap placard. You will be able to pull in and drop off riders, but must return to the Nittany Parking Deck if arriving before 5:00 p.m.
Concessions will NOT be available at the event. Fans are allowed to bring in snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.